Red Feather Lakes, Colorado Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview

Short-term rentals ARE ALLOWED in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado as of the most recent regulations adopted by Larimer County. Red Feather Lakes falls within the unincorporated areas of Larimer County and is subject to county-wide STR regulations with some specific provisions that apply to this community.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Red Feather Lakes?

Red Feather Lakes hosts earn a median $36,801/year with $255 ADR and 50% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $50,263+ per year.

See the full Red Feather Lakes market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Red Feather Lakes

Step 1: Pre-Application Meeting

Contact the Larimer County Planning Department to schedule a pre-application meeting
Your assigned planner will review submittal requirements and the planning process
Pre-applications expire six months from the date of the meeting

Step 2: Choose Your Process Option

Option #1 - Concurrent Process

Both Planning and Building processes run concurrently
Saves time but requires upfront payment
Planning fee: $800, Building fee: $300

Option #2 - Life Safety Inspection First

Complete life safety inspection prior to planning review
Building fee: $100 initially
If proceeding, additional $1,000 fee ($800 Planning + $200 Building)

Step 3: Electronic Application Submittal

Email all materials to: planningCIRT@co.larimer.co.us
Submit each item as a separate PDF
Application fees due following complete submittal

Step 4: Staff and Referral Agency Review

Minimum 60-day referral period for STR applications
Review of all comments and necessary corrections

Step 5: Decision Process

Administrative approval by Director of Community Development
May be scheduled for Board of County Commissioners hearing if:
- Appeal to Code standards
- Significant neighbor opposition

Required Documents, Permits, and Licenses

Mandatory Submittal Requirements:

Application Form - Official Larimer County land use application
Application Fee - Current fee at time of submission
Project Information Sheet - STR-specific form
Operations Manual - Detailed guest information document
Site Plan - Property layout showing structures, parking, boundaries
Floor Plans - Each level on separate pages with detailed labeling
Egress Maps - For each habitable room showing exit routes, address, GPS coordinates, contact phone
Roadway & Access Standards Certification - Access adequacy verification
Non-Subdivision Water Supply Form - Required if using well water
Submittal Checklist - Completed checklist

Operations Manual Must Include:

24-hour contact information for Owner
Property address, GPS coordinates, phone number
Maximum occupancy limits and bedroom count
Parking instructions (vehicles must park on property)
Escape route map to mainline road
Emergency contact information (Fire, Police, Sheriff, Ambulance)
Emergency shut-off instructions for water, gas, electrical
Fire extinguisher location and operation instructions
Garbage storage and removal plan
Fire pit instructions (if applicable)
Wildfire hazard information
Wildlife interaction information
Quiet hours restrictions (HOA or County Noise Ordinance)
Cigarette butt disposal policy
Floodplain hazard information (if applicable)
County Parks/Open Space pass requirements
Emergency alert sign-up information

Additional Requirements:

STR License Renewal - Every other year on anniversary
Life-Safety Inspection - Every four years with license renewal
Building Permits - Not accepted while application pending
Certificate of Occupancy - Issued after planning approval

Specific Regulations for Red Feather Lakes

Separation Requirements:

Red Feather Lakes: STRs must be separated by 250 feet (specific provision for this community)
General residential zones: 500-foot separation requirement

Ownership Provisions:

New and existing licenses may be transferred to immediate family members
Property managers must live within one hour of properties they manage

Zoning Compliance:

STRs allowed in most zoning districts: FO, A, RR-1, RR-2, O, IR, UR-1, UR-2, UR-3, MU-N, MU-C, CD, and AP

Maximum Occupancy:

Calculated as bedrooms × 2 occupants
Large STRs defined as greater than 10 occupants

Key Compliance Standards:

Water verification required (cisterns not adequate)
Sanitary sewer or septic verification required
Floodplain standards apply if property is within designated areas
Life-safety inspection standards must be met
"3 strikes and you're out" enforcement approach
All surrounding property owners within 500 feet notified

Enforcement:

Unlawful to lease, advertise, or permit without required approvals
Three valid complaints can result in suspension or revocation
24/7 property manager availability required
Advertising must contain valid Larimer County approval number

Colorado State Requirements

Lodging Taxes:

State Sales Tax - Required registration with Colorado Department of Revenue
Local lodging taxes - May apply depending on jurisdiction
Marketplace collection - Some platforms collect taxes, but operators must still register
STRs defined as reservations less than 30 consecutive days
Tax registration required regardless of marketplace participation

State Registration:

Register with Colorado Department of Revenue for sales tax license
May need local tax authority registration depending on jurisdiction
File regular lodging tax returns

Contact Information

Primary Contacts:

Larimer County Planning Department

Address: 200 W. Oak Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521
Phone: (970) 498-7000
Email: planning@larimer.org
Website: larimer.gov/planning

Specific Contacts:

On Call Planner: planning@larimer.org
Application Submittal: planningCIRT@co.larimer.co.us
Engineering Department: eng-devrev@larimer.org
Floodplain Administrator: eng-floodplain@larimer.org
Building Division: (970) 498-7660
Clerk and Recorder: (970) 498-7860
Health Department (Septic): (970) 498-6775
Division of Water Resources (Wells): (970) 352-8712

Red Feather Lakes Specific:

Red Feather Lakes Planning Advisory Committee (RFLPAC) - Provides community input on STR regulations

Source Links

Primary Regulatory Documents:

Regulatory Standards:

Information Resources:

News and Updates:

Maps and Planning Resources:

Note: All regulations are subject to change. Investors should verify current requirements with Larimer County before proceeding with applications. The county has indicated ongoing monitoring and potential future adjustments to STR regulations based on community feedback and compliance experience.

Next step

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Ask the AI Advisor about Red Feather Lakes

Red Feather Lakes is a small unincorporated mountain community in Larimer County, Colorado, nestled at roughly 8,400 feet in the Roosevelt National Forest. With a year-round population of only a few hundred residents, it has the feel of a rustic mountain village, a place of ponderosa pines, small general stores, and a scattering of cabins and lodges clustered around the namesake chain of lakes. The community is best known as a year-round outdoor recreation hub and as a quiet gateway to the Cache la Poudre corridor, one of the wildest sections of the Colorado Rockies. It sits about 50 miles northwest of Fort Collins and roughly 100 miles north of Denver, tucked far enough into the mountains to feel remote but close enough to Front Range population centers to remain a workable weekend escape.

Just outside the village, the Roosevelt National Forest wraps around Red Feather Lakes in every direction, offering immediate access to hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. The surrounding forest lands include marked trails, scenic byways, and dispersed camping areas, all within a short drive of the village center, making the national forest itself a primary draw for visitors who come for the wilderness rather than a single landmark.

To the south and east of town, the Cache la Poudre River corridor carves a dramatic canyon through the mountains. Designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, the Cache la Poudre River is renowned for whitewater rafting, fly fishing, and a scenic drive that climbs upstream into the Poudre Canyon. The drive from Red Feather Lakes to the lower canyon takes roughly an hour, and the river draws outdoor enthusiasts from across the region throughout the warmer months.

Within the community itself, the cluster of high-elevation lakes is the namesake feature, and the surrounding area is dotted with additional draws such as the Shambhala Mountain Center, a Buddhist meditation retreat set on a large wooded property, as well as trail systems that connect the village to nearby peaks and meadows. The village also hosts an annual library fundraiser, a summer concert series, and a handful of locally owned restaurants and outfitters that cater to visitors rather than through-traffic, giving the place a lived-in, community-oriented character despite its small size.

For short-term rental owners, Red Feather Lakes offers an appealing combination of natural setting, established tourist infrastructure, and relative scarcity of lodging, which keeps demand steady for cabins and larger homes. Visitors drawn to national forest access, the Poudre corridor, and the area's alpine quiet tend to stay multiple nights, and the proximity to both Fort Collins and the northern Front Range gives the market a reliable base of regional guests looking for a genuine mountain getaway.